Special Applications Group was founded and is led by a team of veteran Special Operations Forces leaders dedicated to continued service to our nation and committed to excellence.


David Lawrence, CEO and co-founder:
Dave recently retired as a Colonel from the US Army.  While on active duty he gained extensive experience commanding conventional and special operations organizations during a successful military career that spanned 26 years.   Most recently he served on the USSOCOM Staff and as a commander of a combined arms brigade during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).  He has unmatched experience in strategic and operational planning and global dynamics; joint, inter-agency, and multi-national operations, training management, and resource management.  He has trained, organized and led elite task forces in training and special operations combat missions as well as inspection activities in the Former Soviet Union.

Dave has worked extensively with all branches of service in the US Department of Defense, NATO, major urban area Law Enforcement Agencies, and other US Government Agencies. 

A 2000 Army War College graduate, Dave holds a Masters of Science Degree in National Security Strategy


Bryan Bean, President and co-founder:
Bryan Bean is an experienced Special Operations Subject Matter Expert and Training Specialist with more than 20 years of experience integrating multi-level, cross functional training and assessing capabilities and requirements at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels. Bryan is a retired Army officer with over 12 years in special operations, most of that time assigned to an elite helicopter Task Force. Prior to founding Special Applications Group, he synchronized operations and training for units from all services, other government agencies, as well as federal and local law enforcement. His last three years on active duty were spent as a strategic capabilities assessment officer for United States Special Operations Command. As a senior trainer at the Joint Readiness Training Center and member of Joint Special Operations Exercise Control Groups, Bryan developed extensive experience in the design, conduct, evaluation, management of tabletop exercises (TTXs), command post exercises (CPXs), and field training exercises (FTXs), training-readiness management, and helicopters special missions and support to Special Security events.

Bryan has worked with the Joint Special Operations University, all branches of service in the US Department of Defense, the Israeli Defense Forces, major urban area Law Enforcement Agencies, and other US government agencies.

Bryan holds an M.A. in Human Resource Development from Webster University and has focused his study and experience on experiential training for team building and leadership. He also holds a B.A. in English from George Mason University. He has specialized training from a wide range of defense-related courses and institutions, including the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Joint Special Operations Planning Course, and is a Master Army Aviator.